Delosperma plant named ‘Wow312’

ABSTRACT

A new cultivar of Delosperma plant named ‘Wow312’ that is characterized by its low-growing plant habit, its long blooming period and its flowers that have bright white petal tips, white center eye and bright yellow in the mid-section.

Botanical classification: Delosperma nubigenum.

Variety denomination: ‘Wow312’.

CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application is related to U.S. Plant Patents derived from the samebreeding program that are entitled Delosperma Plant Named ‘WOW2011-1’(U.S. Plant Pat. No. 25,684) and Delosperma Plant Named ‘Jewel of DesertPeridot’ (U.S. Plant Pat. No. 23,566). This application claims priorityto European Community Plant Variety Office (CPVO) Plant Breeder's RightsApplication No. 2019/0863 filed on Apr. 4, 2019, the entire contents ofwhich is incorporated by reference herein.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a new and distinct cultivar ofDelosperma plant, botanically known as Delosperma nubigenum ‘Wow312’ andwill be referred to hereinafter by its cultivar name, ‘Wow312’. The newcultivar of Delosperma is an herbaceous perennial grown for containerand landscape use.

The new cultivar in Ichinimiya-City, Aichi-Pref, Japan. The overallpurpose of the breeding program was to develop new cultivars ofDelosperma plants with low-growing and well-spreading growth habitscombined with long flowering periods and a unique range of flowercolors.

‘Wow312’ arose from crosses made by the Inventor between unnamed andunpatented proprietary plants of Delosperma nubigenum from his breedingprogram. Seeds were pooled from the crosses and therefore the exactparentage is unknown. ‘Wow312’ was selected in May of 2013 as a singleunique plant amongst the resulting seedlings.

Asexual propagation of the new cultivar was first accomplished by stemcuttings in September of 2013 by the Inventor in Ichinimiya-City,Aichi-Pref, Japan. Propagation by stem cuttings has shown that theunique features of the new cultivar are stable and reproduced true totype in successive generations.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The following traits have been repeatedly observed and are determined tobe the characteristics of the new cultivar. These attributes incombination distinguish ‘Wow312’ as a unique cultivar of Delosperma.

-   -   1. ‘Wow312’ exhibits a low-growing plant habit.    -   2. ‘Wow312’ exhibits a long blooming period.    -   3. ‘Wow312’ exhibits flowers that have bright white petal tips,        white center eye and bright yellow in the mid-section.

‘Wow312’ can be most closely compared to Delosperma cooperi cultivars‘WOW2011-1’ and ‘Jewel of Desert Peridot’. ‘WOW2011-1’ and ‘Jewel ofDesert Peridot’ are both similar to ‘Wow312’ in having yellow and whiteflowers. ‘WOW2011-1’ differs from ‘Wow312’ in having all yellow flowerpetals. ‘Jewel of Desert Peridot’ differs from ‘Wow312’ in having flowerpetals that are all yellow with large white centers.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The accompanying colored photographs illustrate the overall appearanceand distinct characteristics of the new Delosperma. The photographs weretaken of a 2-liter container planted with 5 plants that were 3 months inage as grown in an unheated greenhouse in Noordwijkerhout, TheNetherlands.

The photograph in FIG. 1 provides a side view of ‘Wow312’ in bloom.

The photograph in FIG. 2 provides a close-up view of a flower of‘Wow312’.

The photograph in FIG. 3 provides a close-up view of the foliage of‘Wow312’.

The colors in the photographs may differ slightly from the color valuescited in the detailed botanical description, which accurately describethe colors of the new Delosperma.

DETAILED BOTANICAL DESCRIPTION

The following is a detailed description of 2-liter containers plantedwith 5 plants that were 3 months in age as grown in an unheatedgreenhouse in Noordwijkerhout, The Netherlands. The phenotype of the newcultivar may vary with variations in environmental, climatic, andcultural conditions, as it has not been tested under all possibleenvironmental conditions. The color determination is in accordance withThe 2015 Colour Chart of The Royal Horticultural Society, London,England, except where general color terms of ordinary dictionarysignificance are used.

-   General description:    -   -   Blooming period.—Late spring to late summer in            Noordwijkerhout, The Netherlands.        -   Plant type.—Herbaceous perennial.        -   Plant habit.—Compact, broad spreading and upright.        -   Height and spread.—Reaches about 15 cm in height and 17 cm            in diameter.        -   Cold hardiness.—Observed to be hardy in U.S.D.A. Zones 7 to            12.        -   Diseases and pests.—No susceptibility to resistance to            diseases or pests has been observed.        -   Root description.—Fibrous roots, 162D in color.        -   Propagation.—Softwood cuttings.        -   Growth habit.—Moderately to vigorous.        -   Root development.—Roots initiate and fill a 104-cell plug in            3 weeks and the planted plugs fully develop in 9-cm            container within 6 weeks.-   Stem description:    -   -   Shape.—Round.        -   Stem color.—Young stems; both surfaces 146D, mature stems;            upper surface 176A, lower surface 148A to 148B.        -   Stem size.—Lateral branches; an average of 12.6 cm in length            and 4 mm in diameter.        -   Internode length.—An average of 3.6 cm.        -   Stem texture.—Succulent.        -   Stem surface.—Slightly glossy, densely covered with very            small glands, average length 0.2 mm, transparent and            matching stem surface color.        -   Stem aspect.—Held at multiple angles, mainly upright.        -   Stem strength.—Strong.        -   Branching habit.—Freely branching, an average of 4 primary            branches and 15 lateral branches per plant.-   Foliage description:    -   -   Leaf shape.—Ligulate, triangular in cross-section, slightly            carinate.        -   Leaf substance.—Succulent; an average of 4 mm in thickness.        -   Leaf division.—Simple.        -   Leaf base.—Cuneate.        -   Leaf apex.—Bluntly acute.        -   Leaf venation.—No veins visible.        -   Leaf margins.—Entire.        -   Leaf aspect.—Slightly curved.        -   Leaf arrangement.—Opposite.        -   Leaf surface.—Upper surface moderately glossy, lower surface            slightly glossy, both surfaces smooth, densely covered with            very small glands, average of 0.2 mm, transparent and            matching stem surface color.        -   Leaf color.—Young upper and lower surface; 143C, mature            upper surface; NN137B, lower surface; 138A.        -   Leaf size.—About 4.5 cm in length and 5 mm in width.        -   Leaf quantity.—Average of 8 (4 pairs) per lateral branch.        -   Leaf attachment.—Sessile.-   Inflorescence description:    -   -   Inflorescence type.—Flowers solitary on terminus and            axillary nodes.        -   Flower number.—An average of 4 flowers and 46 buds per            plant.        -   Flower fragrance.—None.        -   Flower aspect.—Upright to slightly outward.        -   Flower longevity.—Average of 10 days, persistent.        -   Flower type.—Single, rotate.        -   Flower size.—Average of 2.9 cm in height and diameter, 1.2            cm in depth.        -   Flower buds.—Obovate in shape, an average of 1.4 cm in            length and 9 mm in diameter, 146A to 146B in color, base            144B in color, surface is slightly glossy and densely            covered with very short glandular hairs an average of 0.2 mm            in length, transparent and matching bud surface color.        -   Calyx.—Rotate in shape, average of 8 mm in depth (including            ovary) and 2 cm in diameter.        -   Sepals.—5, rotate, narrowly ovate in shape, margin entire,            an average of 9 mm in length and 3.5 mm in width, bluntly            acute apex, broadly cuneate base, color; when opening and            fully open upper surface; NN137C, when opening and fully            open lower surface; 147B, surface; upper and lower surface            smooth and densely covered with very small glands average of            0.2 mm in length, transparent and matching surface color,            upper surface glossy, lower surface moderately glossy.        -   Petals.—An average of 82 per flower, rotate, average of 2            whorls lower row an average of 46, upper row an average of            36, upper petal row; average of 8 mm in length, 2 mm in            width, linear in shape, apex narrow acute, base narrowly            cuneate, margin entire, glabrous and velvety surface, color;            when opening upper and lower surface 4A to 4D, when fully            open upper surface 4A, eye NN155D, when fully open lower            surface 4C, lower petal row; average of 1.2 cm in length, 5            mm in width, narrow oblanceolate in shape, apex obtuse, base            narrowly cuneate, margin entire, glabrous and velvety            surface, color; when opening upper and lower surface a blend            of 5D and NN155D, when fully open upper surface NN155D,            changed to 5D at the base, when fully open lower surface            NN155D, base 5D.        -   Petaloids.—None present.        -   Peduncle.—Average of 2.6 cm in length and 2 mm in diameter,            held straight on top of lateral branch, 177A to 177B in            color, surface is smooth, moderately glossy and densely            covered with very small glands <0.2 mm in length,            transparent and matching surface color.        -   Pedicel.—None present.-   Reproductive organs:    -   -   Pistils.—5 occasionally 6, style; an average of 1 mm in            length and 144A in color, stigma; deltoid in shape, an            average of 2 mm in length and 1 mm in diameter, 12A in            color, ovary; 147B, changing to 148A in color.        -   Stamens.—Average 100, anthers; oblong and basifixed in            shape, an average of 0.75 mm in length and 0.4 mm in width,            NN155D in color, filaments; 3.5 mm in length and a blend of            NN155D and 4D in color, pollen; moderate in quantity and 9B            in color.        -   Fruit/seed.—Fruit and seed production has not been observed            to date.

It is claimed:
 1. A new and distinct variety of Delosperma plant named‘Wow312’ as described and illustrated herein.